NCIS High School Teenage Years

Chapter 22: Justice

The woman smiled. "No, it's just your Ima".

Tali chuckled at her stupidity. "Sorry Ima. It's just that Ziva looks exactly like you".

Rivka smiled. "I know". She said softly. She raked her fingers through her daughter's hair.

"Ziva isn't dead... is she?" Tali asked her mother nervously.

Rivka laughed. "No, tateleh. She's safe and alive".

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It was the next day. From his basement, Gibbs heard footsteps slowing coming down the stairs. Without looking up from sanding his boat, Gibbs cleared his throat.

"Tony?"

The person who came down the stairs chuckled. "Hello Gibbs. Long time no see".

Gibbs whirled around, and stood face-to-face with Ari. Neither Gibbs or Ari said anything. Ari walked to a work bench, and sat down, still looking at Gibbs. Gibbs leaned up against his boat, crossed his arms, and stared at Ari.

"Ari". Gibbs addressed him. "Can I help you?"

Ari smirked. "I want justice".

Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Justice?"

"Yes". Ari responded. "You see, Caitlin died because of you. If you would have let us be together, I wouldn't have killed her".

"My daughter died because you killed her, Ari. End of story". Gibbs said angrily.

Ari clicked his tongue. "Ah, you see, that is where you are mistaken". He walked over to Gibbs, and took out a gun that was concealed at his waist. Gibbs eyed the gun in Ari's hands as he back away slowly from him. Gibbs hit something solid, and turned around to see what it was.

It was his work bench. Still looking at the gun, Gibbs sat down. "Don't do something you'll regret, Ari". He warned.

Ari snickered. "It is too late for that". He raised the gun so that it was aimed at Gibbs' forehead. "You must die too".

As Ari clicked the trigger into place, he smirked. "Shalom Gibbs".

Gibbs closed his eyes as a loud bang sounded. Surprised, he opened his eyes. He saw Ari fall to the floor with a grunt. Gibbs looked up at the door leading into his basement with surprise.

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Ziva stood in the doorway; gun still raised. She slowly lowered her gun, and walked down the basement stairs. She walked until she was right in front of Ari's lifeless body on the ground. She sensed Gibbs walk up behind her, but she didn't turn to face him. Ziva stared at her brother's face and saw blood seeping out of Ari's head, and into the concrete of the basement.

As Ziva softly sang a Jewish mourning song to her brother, Gibbs gently placed both of his hands on her shoulders. Ziva could barely finish the song. She ended it with a wavering note, and Gibbs rubbed her back.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of you". He whispered in her ear.

Trembling with sobs, Ziva turned around and looked into her surrogate father's face. She stared into his caring, light blue eyes, as he stared into her broken, chocolate brown eyes.

Her face scrunched up in despair, and she crashed her head into Gibbs' chest. She sobbed loudly, and murmured incoherently in Hebrew. Gibbs rubbed her back, and ran his fingers through her hair. He brought his head down, and kissed ziva gently on the top of her head.

With his lips still on her head, Gibbs rocked side to side. Ziva's arms wrapped around his torso and squeezed.

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Up above them, Ziva and Gibbs heard the sound of running footsteps and frantic voices.

"Jethro! Jethro!" They heard Jenny scream from upstairs.

Gibbs raised his head, and yelled "In here Jen!"

Jenny, Abby, and Tony bursted into the basement, and saw the scene in front of them. Ari's body on the floor; a bullet sized hole in his head. Gibbs and Ziva embracing each other. Gibbs rocking Ziva side to side. Ziva sobbing loudly in his arms.

Abby screamed, Jenny gasped, and Tony stared dumbfoundedly at Ziva, and Ari's lifeless body.

"Ziva!!" Tony practically yelled out with surprise. "What happened?"

Gibbs gave his son a 'not now, I'll tell you later' look. Ziva broke away from Gibbs' hug, and whipped her nose of the back of her hand. She brushed past him, and made her way up the basement stairs. She tried to walk past Jenny, Tony, and Abby, but Abby stopped her.

Abby's bottom lip quivered as she gazed into Ziva's eyes. She then pulled her into a bone crushing hug.

"I'm sorry Ziva". She whispered. "Can we talk about this later?"

Ziva pulled away, and gave her a small nod; smiling slightly. Ziva then walked into the house, and disappeared from sight.

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Up in heaven, Tali and Kate were picking flowers from a nearby meadow.

"I think Ima will like this one". Tali said, picking a bright yellow daffodil. "What do you think Kate?"

Kate smiled. "I think your Ima will love it, Tali".

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Just then, Rivka called Tali from inside her house. "Tali darling! We have a visitor!"

Still clutching the flowers, Tali ran over to her mother. "Who is it, Ima?" She asked when she reached her mother.

"Open the door to your room, and see for yourself". Rivka said, smiling at Tali.

Tali walked quickly to her room, and cautiously opened the door.

"Ah Tali". A man said to her. "I finally get to see you again. I've missed you so much".

"Ari?"

Ari smiled at her, and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Tali, I know I've done some bad things, but that was in the past. I promise you, I'm a better man now".

Tali hugged Ari harder. "I know". She whispered. "I still love you no matter what".

"I love you so much metuka". Ari whispered back in Tali's ear.